Emergencies

Kid’s Corner

Your Child’s First Visit

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, every child should visit a dentist around age 1 and every six months thereafter. These visits help children begin to get comfortable in a dental setting and allow dentists to observe the dental changes in a child’s mouth from an early age.

We are committed to providing a positive experience for your child’s first visit to the dentist. When preparing your child, please reinforce the idea that going to the dentist is a fun and comfortable experience. Please try to avoid using words like “pain,” “needle,” “shot” and “hurt” when talking to your child about the dentist. We will always tell your child about each procedure and how it works, show your child what it looks like, and then perform the procedure when they are comfortable. If you are anxious about the visit, your child will sense that and will be anxious as well.

We strive to provide a fun and supportive environment for children. Our approach to dentistry for children is “Tell, Show, Do.” We will only use the most comforting and positive words and phrases when talking to your child.

Our goal is for both you and your child to leave our office calm, happy and smiling from ear to ear!

Pediatric Dentistry

An oral evaluation is recommended every six (6) months to prevent cavities and other dental problems. During an oral evaluation, a thorough examination of the mouth, head, and neck is performed to detect abnormalities.

Dental Cleanings (Prophylaxis)

Regular cleanings help keep gums healthy and teeth cavity-free. A dental cleaning includes removal of tartar and plaque and polishing of the teeth to remove stains and prevent further buildup of plaque.

Oral Hygiene Instructions

During a regular check-up, oral hygiene instructions are given to both patient and parent. Good home care can reduce the risk of plaque and tartar build-up which can lead to cavities. Instructions include proper techniques for brushing, flossing, and using mouth rinses.

Fluoride is a natural substance that helps strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Fluoride treatments are administered at this office as an important component of pediatric dental treatment. The fluoride is applied to your child’s teeth using a varnish that comes in a variety of fun flavors.

Dental sealants are made of a safe resin material which is applied to the surfaces of teeth (commonly permanent molars) to prevent cavities. The sealant material fills in the crevices of a tooth and “seals” off the tooth from cavity-causing agents like food and plaque. The teeth are prepared for the sealant application and the sealant is painted directly onto the chewing surface of each tooth and then hardens. Sealants are applied in one visit.

Tooth-colored fillings are the most lifelike material used to fill cavities. Composite fillings can be done in one visit. Once the decay is removed, the tooth is filled with this composite material that hardens immediately after placement.

Pulp Treatment (Pulpotomy/Pulpectomy/Baby Root Canal)

“Pulp” or “nerve” treatment is used to treat damage to the inside of a tooth, also known as the dental “pulp.” Once damaged by dental caries or injury, the pulp will gradually decay if left within the tooth.

There are two types of “children’s root canal” treatment:

Pulpectomy: This treatment is necessary when the entire pulp is damaged or diseased. The decayed pulp tissue is removed from the crown and the root, the canals are cleaned and filled. Once the treatment is complete, we can place a final restoration to protect the tooth.

Pulpotomy: involves removing the pulp only from the crown of the tooth, cleaning out the root canals, and packing the canals with material that will help restore the tooth until it is time for it to exfoliate (or fall out on its own naturally).

Dental Crowns

Sometime a cavity in a tooth becomes so large that fillings are not enough to restore the tooth. Used to treat both baby and permanent teeth, a crown is a dental restoration that completely covers the outside of a severely decayed tooth, restoring shape and function. Made of durable material that is meant to last, this custom made “cap” will be created especially for your child and will be fitted perfectly on on your child’s tooth.

Cosmetic bonding is the process of filling or restoring teeth with a tooth-colored material in order to maintain a natural appearance.

Whitening

Whitening, also known as bleaching, is the procedure used to brighten teeth. In-office whitening usually requires only one office visit. A protective gel or a rubber shield is placed over the gums to protect the soft tissue. A bleaching agent containing carbamide peroxide is applied to the teeth, and a laser light is then used to enhance the action of the whitening agent.

Some Common Dental Emergencies

Gently clean the area around the tooth, rinsing the mouth with warm water and gently flossing to remove any particles that may be lodged in the tissue around the tooth. If you child is still experiencing pain, please call our office to schedule an appointment. Do not place aspirin on the aching tooth. If the area around the affected tooth is warm, apply a cold compress and call our office immediately.

If your child loses a permanent tooth, please call the office immediately. It is crucial to replace the tooth as quickly as possible. Handling the tooth by the crown, gently rinse the tooth, avoiding touching the root if at all possible. If you can place the tooth back in it’s socket, have your child bite down on gauze to keep it in place until you get to the office. If you can not place the tooth, put the tooth in a small container of milk or saliva until we can try to re-attach the tooth.

Gently rinse the area with lukewarm water and have your child place a cold compress on their face to reduce swelling. If you can locate the piece of broken tooth, place the piece in milk, and bring it with you to the office. If more than half of the tooth is broken off, please call us immediately.

For more information on treating mouth and dental injuries, please visit UptoDate’s website by clicking below.

UpToDate is an online medical information resource where patients can go to learn about a medical condition and to better understand management and treatment options. Providing in-depth, authoritative medical information, including recommendations based on the latest published evidence, UpToDate is the trusted resource of physicians around the world and is used by the majority of academic medical centers in the United States.